In Studio Jam: Brandy

Brandy Norwood is still in her early 30’s, but she’s been a superstar since she was 15 years old. The teenage singer/actress became both a platinum recording artist and a popular TV star with her sitcom “Moesha.” While things looked great to the outside world, Brandy now says the pressures of stardom at such a young age made her unhappy. Thankfully, she has a lot to be happy about these days. After appearances on several reality shows, and a hearfelt “Behind the Music” profile, Brandy has rebooted her once-flagging career. There’s a new love, a new album and after some setbacks and tragedies, the single mother has regrouped and seems to have put the past behind her. Her latest CD “Two Eleven” is due out on October 16.th. Here’s more on Brandy.

BORN: Brandy Rayana Norwood in McComb, Mississippi

BIG BREAK: Being cast on the short-lived sitcom “Thea” in 1993

BACK STORY: Singer/actress Whitney Houston was Brandy’s idol growing up. The young singer dreamed of the day they would meet and eventually, not only did they meet, the two worked together on the 1997 TV movie version of the fairy tale “Cinderella.” Of course, Houston would play Brandy/Cinderella’s fairy godmother. Sadly, Houston died on February 11th this year – Brandy’s birthday.

RESUME: Brandy has sold over 30 million CD’s worldwide and has won over 100 awards, including a Grammy, two Soul Train Music Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, an American Music Award, six Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, three BMI Awards and two Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards.

FUN FACTS: An 18-year-old Kobe Bryant invited Brandy to his high school prom, which they attended together. However, Brandy has admitted that the budding romance was derailed by Brandy’s then-relationship with Boyz II Men singer Wanya Morris.

“This album is a lot more mature than my past work, but very much rooted in R&B. With this album I wanted to have a purpose and that purpose was to contribute to the genre of R&B. So many people are missing that music that touches the soul. So many of us are doing different things with music and that’s ok, but for me that’s where I come from. I just wanted to help bring that back to the forefront and stay true to who I am.” Thatgrapejuice.net (2012)

“He’s misunderstood. Its one thing to have this image of [a ladies' man], but it’s another to become this other type of person that they’re trying to make my brother out to be. I know who he is. This is a man who loves his mama and his sister and his niece. Ray J loved Kim Kardashian. They were irresponsible with their–you know–but he loved her. For five years, he was with her. In his mind and in the world’s mind, he was in my shadow for such a long time.

To watch his sister become whatever I became and to not have that same path or that same way it happened for me; to be called ‘Brandy’s brother…’ To finally break out of it, you’re going to brag; you’re going to feel something about yourself. It’s not coming from a bad place, and I can tell you: Some of the shoes Ray J’s walking in, you’d take off immediately. You wouldn’t be able to handle the type of shoes he’s in.” Ebony Magazine (2012)

“My whole life and behavior and how I am with my career, is my tribute to her. For some reason I just feel like…I don’t want to say she passed the torch, because clearly my voice isn’t as strong as Whitney’s and only she could do what she could do. But to pass on my birthday I feel like she passed something to me to continue to do because she’s not here anymore. So I just want to do that, whatever that thing is. I know I can’t come close to her, so I’m not saying that at all but I’m going to try my hardest to live out something that she would do if she was still here.” Urbanbridgez.com (2012)